Food processor



6 Sheets-Sheet 1 P. E. HANSER FOOD PROCESSOR July 16, 1968 Filed July25, 1966 S IMQfi INVENTOR.

Jul 16, 1968 P. E. HANSER 3,392,661

FOOD PROCESSOR Filed July 25, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 2 8 7 INVENTOR. HMW July 16, 1968 P. E. HANSER 3,392,661

FOOD PROCES SOR Filed July 25, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 9M INVENTOR. N M "M6 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. E. HANSER FOOD PROCESSOR July 16, 1968 Filed July25, 1966 P. E. HANSER F001) PROCESSOR July 16, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed July 25, 1966 m mul INVENTOR. PAUL E. HANSER P. E. HANSER FOODPROCESSOR July 16, 1968 Filed July 25, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 w UKINVENTOR. PAUL E. HANS'E'R United States Patent 3,392,661 FOOD PROCESSORPaul E. Hansel", 2329 33rd St., Moline, Ill. 61265 Continuation-impartof application Ser. No. 259,216, Feb. 18, 1963. This application July25, 1966, Ser. No. 593,226

21 Claims. (Cl. 99-238) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A food processingmachine including a main frame; structure on the frame defining an inletand outlet; a rotary mechanism with angularly spaced outwardly openingchambers moving between the inlet and outlet; a chamber closure devicebetween the inlet and outlet alongside the rotary device and supportedon the frame for radial movement in respect to the rotary device; afluid pressure means opening into the chambers tending to separate thetwo devices; and an external force transmitting means operating to closethe devices and to counterbalance the effect of the fluid pressureagainst the closure device.

This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.259,216 filed Feb. 18, 1963 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved grain puffing machine and moreparticularly to a grain puffing machine that utilizes high pressuresteam to puff the grain.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved,effective, simple and economical machine which at adjusted shortintervals of time will feed batches of raw grain such as wheat, rice,corn, barley and other cereals, from a sloping bin or hopper intosuccessive expanding radial chambers or pockets of a circular rotor andin which the grain is subjected to hot vaporized steam pressure duringintermittent partial revolutions and short stoppages of the rotor andthen released and discharged in the form of large puffed cereal from thebottom of the rotor. The above is provided in combination withadjustable means to subject the cereal in the radial pressure chambersof the rotor to the penetrative action of hot steam vaporsfor variouspredetermined periods and release it at a certain point.

It is a further object of the invention to provide adjustable sealingmeans to automatically prevent leakage of steam and hot vapor, and tobalance the pressure upon the front and rear edges of the rotor and thesealing means contacted thereby and to take up wear if needed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide at the base of thehopper a plunger mechanism that operates to discharge a predeterminedquantity of untreated material into the respective chambers or pocketsto insure that an exact quantity of grain is moved in the chambers.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pawl andratchet drive for the rotor that intermittently drives the rotor in astop-and-go movement. It is further provided in combination with thedrive a spring means that snaps the rotor to its various intermittentpositions so that the puffed grain will be instantaneously moved into adischarge position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following description and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of my machine on a foundation which may beof any suitable material, but preferably of concrete.

ice

FIGURE 2 is a top or plan view.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section on the line of 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing an improved form ofthe invention.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, similar to FIGURE 2, showing the structure ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 ofFIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along thhe line 8-8 ofFIGURE 6.

Referring now to FIGURES 1-4, my invention includes a metal frame orhousing 31 preferably of rustproof steel with legs 32 supporting it upona base or foundation 33.

Upon the frame 31 is mounted upon suitable bearings, a main shaft with arotor 10 rigidly secured thereon having a tubular hub 10A with aplurality of faces and chambers 14, preferably eight, formed about thehub by vanes 11 extending radially to contact curved faces of a.supporting block 27 of suitable metal such as an alloy of brass and ironand aluminum at the rear one-half of the rotor 10. The block 27 has ashallow port chamber 37 cut out to feed live steam to the chambers 14 asthey pass and supply them with live steam at a temperature above 212 F.and preferably at a pressure of 200 to 800 pounds per square inch fromthe feed steam line 28 which may be provided by a boiler and anysuflicient source of supply.

One object is to provide means to provide variable degrees oftemperature, pressure and time of exposure so as to produce differentdesired degrees of expansion and size, contour and density of thefinished puffed cereal, in order for use as human food, and also toallow the production of larger sized units more suitable for feedingcattle, hogs and other stock which it is desired to fatten for market.

The vanes 11 of the pressure chambers are united at both ends to theside plates 13 of the rotor 10 by welding or other airtight unionscapable of preventing leakage of steam or hot air under high pressureand heat.

Opposite the intake port chamber 37, a cover plate 3 of sufficient sizeto cover the open outer end of any one of the pressure chambers 14 andcurved to correspond and fit closely to the outer edges of the vanes 11and side plates 13 of the rotor 10, is rigidly mounted.

Likewise, the inner sectional faces of the pressure block 27 at bothabove and below the port chamber 37 will be curved and closely fitted tothe outer edges of the vanes 11 and the peripheries of the side plates13 of the rotor 10 to prevent leakage of steam or vapor at theirjunctions.

In order to control the intermittent timing of rotation of the rotor andexposure of the cereal to the hot steam and vapor, I mount upon one endof the rotor shaft 35 a modified form of ratchet wheel 34 with a fiatcircular body and with a plurality of segments of its periphery havingplane surfaces 34 with a hook-shaped cog or ratchet 34" at one endprojecting outwardly.

Link bars 6, 6 are mounted at both sides of the wheel 34 with a pivotbar 36 at one end of the link bars arranged to travel along the planesurfaces of the segments to engage the ratchet hooks 34 and rotate thewheel 34 intermittently.

The other ends of the link bars are pivoted upon a crank or arm 5 by apivot 4. The crank or arm 5 is driven by a drive shaft 19 actuated by adrive wheel 18. The

drive Wheel 18 preferably has a V-groove in its periphery for a V-belt17 which is driven by a motor wheel 16 on a motor shaft which may bedriven by any desired form of motor.

The speed of the drive wheel 18 and the crank may be controlled by thespeed of the motor and the relative sizes of the wheel 18 and the motorwheel 16 to govern the rotation of the rotor 10.

A set of interchangeable drive and motor wheels of selected sizes may beprovided with each complete machine to adapt it to various cereals andsizes as desired.

The rotor 10 with its pressure chambers 14 is rotated intermittently bythe ratchet wheel 34 through the hub 10A. The ratchet wheel 34 isrotated intermittently by the links 6, 6 which are drivenreciprocatingly by the crank 5 on the end of the shaft 19. The shaft 19is preferably turned approximately 6 rpm. by a motor 15, but its'timingmay be varied to meet the requirements of different cereals.

The intermittent rotation of the rotor causes a discharging pocket toopen rapidly allowing the rapid expansion and pressure drop of the steamin that pocket.

The pressure block 27 is held pressed against the rotor 10 by the links7 and 25.

The links are anchored to the frame 31 by the eye bolts 8. The links 7are attached to a pressure balancing cylinder 21 (FIG. 3) which isanchored to the frame 31. The pressure balancing cylinder 21 is composedof the following parts: a piston 9C, a piston O ring seal 22, a barrelshaft seal 23, and an elastic rubber spring pad 20 with an annularopening around it to admit the steam.

The pressure balancing cylinder 21 is subjected to pressure of thesteam. The steam pressure supply pipe for the pressure balancingcylinder 21, comes from the main steam supply pipe 28 which providessteam to the pressure block 27.

Thus the pressure in the pressure block chamber 37 is the same as thepressure in the cylinder 21, so the force exerted by the pressurebalancing cylinder 21 is proportional to the pressure of the steam.

By properly selecting the areas of the pressure balancing cylinder 21,the force exerted by the steam tending to separate the pressure blockfrom the rotor pressure wheel 10, can be balanced. The pressure in thebalancing cylinder will increase and decrease to maintain the properpressure between the pressure block 27 and the pressure wheel 10 whilethe parts of the machine expand and contract due to temperature changes.

Because the pressure balancing cylinder balances the forces between thepressure wheel and the pressure block, wear will be minimized and themechanical efficiency will be augmented. The pressure balancing cylinderwill automatically compensate for wear between the pressure rotor 10 andthe pressure block 27.

A rubber pad 20 which acts as a spring is placed in the pressurebalancing cylinder 21 to provide initial tension until the steampressure builds up.

Each assembly includes the cup-shaped cylinder having the elastic rubberpad 20 at the closed end thereof with an annular open space around itthrough which live steam may pass from the pipe 30 to a piston head 9C.The piston head is held stationary by the nut 9A and the steam will tendto push the cylinder cup away from the piston head, thereby exerting apull upon the links 7 and 25 and upon the pressure block 27 to whichthey are attached.

Referring now to FIGURES 5-8, a different form of the invention includesa horizontal extension 42 on the frame 31 that has an outwardlyprojecting flange 43. A slightly longer pivot bar or pin 36 is providedto engage the ratchets 34 and is connected to a spring 45 by a pair oflinks 40, a pivot pin 41 being provided for connection to the spring.The spring 45 is connected at its opposite end to the flange 43. Thepivot pin 36' is connected by links 6, 6 to a pin 4 carried on an arm 5,in the manner previously set forth. A tubular shaft 19' extendstransversely across the unit and is carried freely rotatable within atubular drive shaft 48. The arm 5 is fixed to the shaft 19 and the shaft48 is driven by a V-belt drive 16, 17, 18. Fixed on the shaft 48 is anarm 46 carrying an outwardly projecting pin 47 that contacts theunderside of the arm 5.

In operation, the shaft 48 will move in a clockwise direction, as viewedin FIGURE 5, and the lug 46 will contact the arm 5 to drive it upwardlyand over and beyond the shafts 19', 48 until the pivot pin 36 engagesthe next ratchet tooth 34". As the arm 5 is driven to an overcenterposition, which would be diametrically opposite to its position shown inFIGURE 5, the force of the spring will cause the arm 5 to snap aroundand out of engagement with the lug 47, and the ratchet and rotor 10 willbe moved quickly one complete increment of its rotation.

This feature is important, for it has been found that the steam pressurewithin the chambers 14 must be instantaneously released for the bestresults in pulling gram.

It has also been determined that best results of pulling grain occurwhen a measured amount of grain is moved into the treating chambers 14.To accomplish this, there is provided in the form of the invention shownin FIG- URES 5-8 an upright hopper 55 having a lower arcuate shapedbottom 56 that conforms to the shape of and sits over a portion of therotor 10. A rectangular shape'd plunger chamber 54 is positioned beneaththe hopper. The hopper has a base opening 57 through which material maybe received into the chamber 54. The chamber 54 opens horizontally at 58into a treating chamber 14 in the rotor 10. A plunger block 53 ishorizontally reciprocal in the chamber 54. Mounted on the drive shaft 48is an eccentric 50 that has :a sleeve 51 rotatably carried thereon.Links 52 connect the sleeve 51 to the plunger 53.

As is clearly apparent in FIGURE 8, as the shaft 48 rotates it willcause the eccentric to rotate so as to drive the sleeve 51, links 52 andplunger 53 horizontally. As the plunger 53 is shifted from under theopening 57, grain will fill the plunger housing 54. It should be notedthat since the rotor 10 and plunger 53 are controlled by the single:drive shaft 48 there is a timing between shifting of the rotor 10 inaccordance with each stroke of the plunger. Consequently, each chamber14 is filled with a predetermined quantity of grain which is thec'apacity of the plunger chamber 54.

Various modifications may be made in parts of my apparatus withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as shown in the claims, and Ido not limit my claims to the precise forms, pressures, materials ortemperatures described.

I claim:

1. The combination of apparatus which comprises means for feeding cerealgrain at successive interrupted intervals from an upper hopper into thecircumferential open ends of a plurality of radial pressure chambersarranged for rotation in a circular rotor below the hopper, a closuremember held against rotation and supported alongside the rotor formovement relative thereto and for sealing in airtight containment thecereal grain in said chambers for a part of each rotation of the rotor,means for applying to and mixing with said cereal grain when thechambers are sealed a flow of hot steam at high pressure from a steamsource, and an external force transmitting means applied to the closuremember to substantially counter-balance the steam pressure on the memberfrom within the sealed chamber.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the external forcetransmitting means is ste'am operated and is connected to the steamsource whereby the counterbalancing force is substantially proportionalto the load on the closure member by the steam within the chamber.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by meanseffecting rotation of the rotor at successive interrupted intervalswhereby the chambers will be held in immobile positions in their sealedrelation with the closure member for short intervals.

' 4; A grain pufiing device com-prising a main frame; rotatablestructure onthe frame havinga grain chamber with an open side; a chamberclosure device for closing the open side of the chamber; a steamentrance in communication with a steam source and associated with andfor moving steam into the chamber; means supporting the closure deviceagainst rotation on the frame for radial movement toward and away fromthe chamber; and a force transmit-ting mechanism connected to theclosure device for forcing the device toward and for sealing the openside of the chamber.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by theforce transmitting mechanism being operatively in communication with thesteam source whereby proportionate loads are provided on the device bythe force transmitting mechanism and the steam within the chamber.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 5 in which the steam entrance isconnected to a steam conduit means extending through the closure devicefor discharging into the chamber; and the force transmitting mechanismis a cylinder and reciprocating member therein that is connected to theclosure device for moving it toward the chamber and the cylinder hasinlet means connected to the aforesaid steam conduit means.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the closure deviceincludes a block bearing against the chamber at its open side; and thesteam entrance is in the block and opens into the chamber, and the forcetransmitting means includes in part a steam operated cylinder andreciprocating member arrangement connected to the block for forcing itinto contact with the chamber walls with a force proportionate to theforce of the steam pressure within the chamber.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by therebeing a plurality of grain chambers supported on the frame forconsecutive movement alongside the closure device whereby the respectivechambers may be filled with grain through their open sides prior tomovement alongside the closure device :and emptied of grain throughtheir open sides after movement from alongside the closure device.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the movement of thechambers are intermittent in a stop and go action so that the chambersare held for a period of time adjacent the closure device.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by thechamber being supported on the frame for rotation about an axis and sothat the open side thereof opens radially outwardly and the closuredevice is a block having an arcuate surface adapted to contact and closethe open side of chamber.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 10' in which the steam entranceis in the block and the force transmitting mechanism includes a steamoperated mechanism operable from the same steam source that feeds steamthrough the entrance.

12. The structure as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by thechamber being carried on a rotary mechanism rotatable about the axis;structure on the frame defining an upper grain inlet and a lower grainoutlet; and means supporting the rotary mechanism on the frame to rotateand successively move the chamber from the grain inlet to the grainoutlet for receipt and discharge respectively of the grain.

13. The structure as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by therotary mechanism having a ratchet wheel fixed thereto; a pawl adapted toengage the ratchet wheel; and drive means on the frame for reciprocatingthe pawl so as to move the ratchet wheel and rotary mechanism in a stopand go manner.

14. The structure as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by thepawl and ratchet wheel being spring loaded to force instantaneousmovement of the grain chamber from adjacent the closure device to theoutlet.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by thechamber being part of a rotary mechanism positioned alongside theclosure device and supported to move about an axis so that the chamberpasses adjacent the closure de vice;vand a plunger chamber positionedalongside and opening to the rotary mechanism; and a reciprocatingplunger within the plunger chamber for shifting material into thechamber in the rotary mechanism as it moves adjacent thereto.

16. A treating device for processing a food-like material comprising amain frame; structure on the frame defining a material inlet and amaterial outlet; a rotary mechanism having angularly separated outerchambers and supported on the frame to rotate and successively move thechambers from the inlet to the outlet for receipt and dischargerespectively of the material; a chamber closure device alongside therotary mechanism betwixt the inlet and outlet and adapted to close therespective chambers as they move between the inlet and outlet; a highpressure fluid source having an entrance at the closure device formoving fluid under pressure into the respective chambers as they passadjacent the closure device; a plunger chamber alongside the rotarymechanism with an open end opening into the outer chambers; a plungerreciprocally movable within the plunger chamber for moving materialtherefrom into the outer chambers; and means for filling the plungerchamber with material.

17. The structure as set forth in claim. 16 further characterized by themeans filling the plunger chamber being a hopper supported on the frameabove the plunger chamher and opening downwardly into the latter chamberwhereby the plunger chamber will be filled following each stroke of theplunger.

18. The structure as set forth in claim 16 further characterized by therotary mechanism being driven in increments in a stop and go movementand whereby the grain chambers are momentarily held beside the closuredevice and plunger chamber.

19. The structure as set forth in claim 18 further characterized bymovement of the plunger within its chamber and toward the rotarymechanism occurs during the time in which the rotary mechanism isstopped in its stop and go movement.

20. In a food processing machine, a frame; structure on the framedefining an inlet and outlet; a rotary device having angularly separatedouter chambers and rotatable to successively move the chambers from theinlet to the outlet for receipt and discharge respectively of the foodbeing processed; a chamber closure device supported against rotationalongside the rotary device for closing the respective chambers as theymove between the inlet and outlet; means supporting the closure deviceand rotary device on the frame for relative radial movement toward andaway from one another; fluid pressure means opening into and allowingfluid into the chambers and tending to effect separation between therotary and closure devices; and an external force transmitting meanssupported on the frame and effective to bias the rotary and closuredevices toward one another to counterbalance the tendency towardseparation created by the fluid in the chambers.

21. The structure as set forth in claim 20 in which the forcetransmitting means are reciprocating piston and cylinder members withone of the members being connected to the frame and the other to therelatively movable device whereby expansion and contraction of thepiston and cylinder members will affect the biasing force of one devicetoward the other; and further characterized by fluid pressure meansopening into the cylinder whereby the pressure tending to separate thedevice-s from withthe devices toward one another.

in the chambers is proportional to that tending to move 2,414,1852,490,112 2,585,170 References Cited 2 731 904 UNITED STATES PATENTS 53,104,975

1/1923 Spencer et a1. 99238 8/1927 Suzuki 99238 7/1938 Plews 9982 8Andrews. Winters. Prather. Van Arsdell et a1. 99-'238 Bowman 9982 XWALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

JOHN M. NEARY, Assistant Examiner.

